just crazy enough

HELLO November!

So, I'm just snooping around the web and run into a post (from my friend Jen and her wonderful sister who I haven't met over at: momalom.com) about posting every day in November. I've been (secretly) seeking something to help get me moving and writing again. This is IT. I am just crazy enough to try to do this. November will be post-every-day month (for me). Yahooo! Welcome to November. Leave a comment and let me know you are following along - and feel free to snoop back through the meager offerings here to read what else I wrote back in the dark ages of 2008.

What habit might you establish for a month (this month or any month)?

See you soon!

yukonsally is back.

So it's been.... oh, about a million years. Sorry about that. A few things have happened since I last wrote. Let's catch up!

First, there was this (which I think you knew about):

Then, there was this:

And this:

This:

And FINALLY, THIS:

That's a lot of newness in a year and a half. That's what I've been up to, mostly. Newness.

Of course there is much that has happened in between (and since) those major events pictured above. I will have to fill in the details as we go along, because it is all together just too much for one little post about being back in the blog-o-sphere to handle.

hiatus

Hello BLOGFANS

Merry Christmas, and soon.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I have had a non-stop lineup of to-do's in the last few weeks.  At first, it was all about THE MOVE.  Then it was wedding planning catchup.  Then, snow and travel and hurry up Christmas shopping.  Now I am back, almost.  I have a little stomach bug that is keeping me away from work (as you might imagine, we are VERY careful about germs in the cancer care world).  I feel pretty marginal, but I am able to catch up on a few wedding planning things from my computer in between installments of cups of tea and plain toast.  Doug comes home from his part of the travels tonight just in time for Oliver's FIFTH birthday celebration.  Happy Birthday to my sweet pup!  How is it that he has reached five years old so darn fast?

To recap on the long hiatus in a few easy steps: 

1) Doug and I are now happily ensconced in his condo, living in sin.  The condo is cosy (tight!) but is not busting at the seams the way we thought it might.  Thank goodness.  What we are noticing about this housing arrangement, however, is how URBAN it is.  We are constantly longing for a quieter, more spacious, less populated place of our own.  We are nervous about the real estate market, but are trying to keep our wits about us and take it one step at a time. And the good news?  We really love living together.  Living in sin is awesome.

2)  SNOW.  The entire Pacific Northwest was inundated with snow a week plus before Christmas.  We fared well because of my super SUBARU, Ruby.  Even though she is 12 years old, she is still the biggest snow champ in the entire metro area.  Actually, I miss the snow now that it's melted.  (I know I just got about a zillion virtual snowballs thrown at me!).

3)  Christmas + engagement party.  Doug and I left the pooch with his Christmas girlfriend (our new best friend, Monica!) and flew to Santa Barbara to celebrate the holidays with my side of the family.  I swear we were the last plane to leave SEATAC in the midst of pouring down snow.  We had a beautiful Christmas in SB and for the first time in a LONG time I was able to attend Christmas Eve worship with my family.  That was sweet, especially having my sweetie by my side.  On the 27th, my parents threw D and I an engagement party with all our SB loved ones in attendance.  Many of Doug's loved ones were able to join us (we missed Doug's Dad & Susie due to being snowed in - boo hoo.).  It was a lovely dessert, champagne and time together time.  In the morning over french toast our families extended the visit.  That was super double sweet.  That was when we especially missed Doug's Dad and Susie.

4)  NOW.  Now I am feverishly (kinda literally) catching up.  There are invitations to finalize, bridesmaids dresses to order, hotels to book, and I don't even know what else.  Mary, my trusty sidekick, is keeping me in line.  Or at least she's standing with me in the chaos.  What more could I want?

5)  A beautiful poem I meant to post a while ago.....

little tree

by  E.E. Cummings

little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look      the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you are quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands 

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

a poem for you

i've been thinking a lot about what brings perspective, what causes me to stop and appreciate my life. this poem ran accross my desk (or, er, my laptop) and represented what i am learning right now from my work with patients and families.


Lessons
by Pat Schneider

I have learned
that life goes on,
or doesn't.
That days are measured out
in tiny increments
as a woman in a kitchen
measures teaspoons
of cinnamon, vanilla,
or half a cup of sugar
into a bowl.

I have learned
that moments are as precious as nutmeg,
and it has occurred to me
that busy interruptions
are like tiny grain moths,
or mice.
They nibble, pee, and poop,
or make their little worms and webs
until you have to throw out the good stuff
with the bad.

It took two deaths
and coming close myself
for me to learn
that there is not an infinite supply
of good things in the pantry.

"Lessons" by Pat Schneider from Another River: New and Selected Poems. © Amherst Writers and Artists Press, 2005.

housewifey duties

This weekend I think I might have caught the domesticus virus.  On Friday afternoon a dear friend called and asked that I provide the cake type item for her husband's birthday party the following evening.  I started to brainstorm right away about what could be done.  Said husband LOVES my pumpkin bread.  He begs for it each year as the holidays roll around - sometimes as early as when the first leaves turn.  So, I knew I had better do a pumpkin thing.  After careful consultation with my sister and mom (fellow bakers of this same fantastic recipe from my grandma) on Saturday morning, I was set.  I headed for the grocery to get my supplies.  

All afternoon, along with pumpkin cake preparations (with cream cheese frosting and chocolate chips - YUMMM), I also did laundry, paid my bills, talked with family and friends (I love that I have rediscovered my hands-free gizmo for my phone), and copious amounts of wedding planning/daydreaming/thinking about the future.  The cake came out fantastic, the birthday boy and guests gave it serious raves, and I was pleased as punch.  I was so satisfied with myself having taken care of all my housewifey duties.  In fact, as my head hit the pillow I felt accomplished.  

This is not a feeling I have a lot lately.  Though the fit of my new job is growing on me, generally fitting better, there are many days when I still come home feeling defeated or overwhelmed (especially when I have to write 10 page theological papers - like this week, yikes).  Wedding planning is frustrating at times - for example, we STILL haven't found a reception venue(!!!!).  The downturn of the economy and general insanity of the housing market has made D and I feel very small and vulnerable in the process of planning our future housing.  Last but certainly not least, in order to save money, I am moving into D's condo at the end of November.  It will be great to finally live in one place, but it means that I will have 90% of my belongings in storage and have to say goodbye to my lovely house.  (this last one is making me sadder that all the above combined right now. sniff, SNIFF.)  So, well, feeling accomplishment was a BIG DEAL to me on Saturday.  

This feeling got me to thinking...  I am as much of a feminist as a romantic, idealistic, athletic, vegetarian, clergyperson, graduate of a women's college, firstborn daughter of midwestern(ish) parents can be.  And that's pretty feminist, without going over the top - as in, there's no way I'm a separatist, I'll be taking my husbands name, and I'm more of an idealist than anything.  

On Saturday, I think there began in my spirit a curious transformation.  I still bristle at the idea that I would be the ONLY one doing the housekeeping but I am falling in love with the idea of staying home to raise the kiddos.  (prayer break:  PLEASE God let us be blessed with kiddos.  Amen.)  I never thought that would be me.  I thought I'd have a little time at home and then be back to work gradually.  I thought I'd need the work outside my home, mommy, wife, life in order to stay balanced in my self, my sense of call, and my sense of myself.  But right now, I am all about home.  It is pure delight to imagine creative projects, long walks, the day to day of watching children grow, and putting care into the marriage that I hope to have, taking care of the one I am about to promise to create my life with.  Somehow, at least since Saturday, it is the housewifey duties that I am longing for.

the noble marmot

For my birthday, D gave me a super cool jacket from a company called Marmot Mountainworks.  We've been joking as we get ready to go out, "Grab that varmint and let's go."  or  "How's your marmot today?"  or  "Is that a squirrel jacket?"  This has led to a lot of wondering about marmots.  What are they anyway?  Are they squirrels?  Rodents?  So last night we finally couldn't take the curiosity anymore.  We looked them up online.  A few clicks later we found a world we could never have anticipated, let alone imagined.  I don't know how to post pictures from other websites on my blog (I'm still quite the rookie blogger), but I do know how to write out a link to a site.  Go check out: www.marmotburrow.ucla.edu.  You won't be sorry.  This was the most entertaining - and informative! - surf on the internet I've had in a great long while.  We laughed out loud.  You'll laugh, you'll cry... and who knows, maybe YOU will be inspired to participate in advancing marmot research or protecting the endangered Vancouver Island marmot.  Maybe you will want to be a part of the next International Marmot Meeting.  The noble, charismatic marmot - check it out!

the power of prayer

What a difference a week makes.  Last week I was fretting and unproductive.  I needed to focus and get a few things done.  The wedding planning had hardly been even begun, the dress was not yet selected, and I was totally stuck and frozen.  Overwhelm is my weakest link.  When there is too much on the plate I tend to shut down.  So I stopped and considered my options.... we could delay the wedding date a little further out.  I could quit my job.  We could win the lotto and so then we could hire someone to do everything (and fast!) and we could stop worrying about housing.  OR, I could set a few attainable goals and pick away at them.  As it turns out, nothing was really as hard as it initially seemed.  More importantly, progress has been made!  I called some venues, we visited, and now we are narrowing in on dates, places and times.  I bravely made another appointment and employed my fantastic friend to accompany me to the bridal boutique (this is where the prayer comes in).  Through the power of the prayer warriors who were praying for our success and the Lord's good grace in answering those fervent prayers, we found the perfect dress!  All is well in brideville tonight.  No one is quitting or despairing or putting things off.  Phew!